Letter to The Editor: Not Your Grandfather’s Burlington
A Letter to the Editor, originally published in the Buzz Magazine Summer 2025 Edition, explaining the interplay between the residential and commercial sectors in Burlington
by Sonia Rollins, Community Contributor
This story is featured in the 2025 Summer Buzz Magazine, your guide to having the best time this season. You can read our magazine now or purchase your very own print edition.
Burlington has changed a lot over the last 50 years. Ask anyone who grew up here a few decades ago, and they'll probably describe a bustling mall, office parks, and a comfortable, suburban pace.
Burlington worked—and worked well. The town built strong neighborhoods, great schools, and a thriving local economy. It played a quiet but powerful role in the economic landscape of Greater Boston.
The community was defined by its vibrant commercial base and its reputation as a friendly suburb. Business and residential life coexisted in parallel – complementary but distinct. Burlington became a regional hub by leaning into its strengths: location, accessibility, and a welcoming spirit.
Today, Burlington is not your grandfather’s town. While its prime location continues to attract residents and companies, the economic and social dynamics shaping that attraction have changed.
One of the biggest shifts has been in the commercial sector. For years, Burlington has been home to many Class A office buildings — professional spaces filled with 9-5 employees. Now, with remote work, hybrid schedules, and new industries taking off, many of those offices are sitting empty or underused.
This is not just a Burlington issue; it’s happening everywhere. People still move here because of the location and quality of life. But those same people—along with the companies and employees that come with them—are looking for something different than they were 20 or 30 years ago. They want walkability, flexible workspaces, and access to amenities.
The good news? Burlington has a track record of being proactive. The town didn’t become one of the most desirable places in the region by accident. It planned ahead, embraced opportunity, and welcomed innovation.
Burlington has what it takes to deliver what businesses need and what employees, visitors, and residents are looking for. Rather than seeing society’s evolution as a hurdle, Burlington can once again lean into the moment and use it as an opportunity. Adaptive reuse of offices can transform properties into flexible spaces and mixed-use developments that blend residential, retail, business, and recreation. These new uses align with the lifestyle and needs of today’s professionals and entrepreneurs, keeping Burlington competitive and future-ready.
At the heart of this transformation lies an essential economic truth: The business community is not separate from Burlington’s identity but integral to it.
Taxes on businesses help pay for the services we all rely on. Schools, roads, public safety, parks — those are paid for in large part by commercial taxes. That’s why having a balanced tax base, with a strong mix of both residential and commercial properties, is so important. When office space sits empty, the town loses tax revenue, which puts pressure on the residential base. By supporting the business community, we keep the tax base healthy and continue funding services for residents.
Decades ago, Burlington was forward-thinking in allowing and attracting retail and technology businesses. More recently, the town has carved out space for the life sciences. Today, the town has another chance to lead by aligning commercial assets with today’s needs and encouraging the town to thrive. But getting there will take collaboration.
Municipal leaders, property owners, business stakeholders, and residents must work together to envision and implement smart, sustainable growth. Tools like zoning flexibility, infrastructure investment, and public-private partnerships can unlock new possibilities. The community has already begun this work with the Mall Road Mixed-Use Zoning plan.
If we want to continue being known as a desirable place to live, work, and play – a town that takes care of its residents and the companies that choose to do business here – then we must commit to that future together. Burlington’s next chapter will be written by those willing to shape it.
